From a very young age, I was exposed to the importance of education. Both of my parents are teachers and I am nine years younger than my older brother- all have been extraordinary influences in my pursuit of better education. My main goal when it came to my studies has always been to succeed. I have been somewhat successful for multiple reasons, the weight of society’s expectations, the encouragement and support of my parents, and the lessons passed down to me by my brother. CT
Where does overwhelming need to succeed come from? This enormous pressure to succeed comes in part from my family and friends who want the very best for me, but if I am not successful, does that mean they will stop caring with what I do with my life? Or love me any less? The idea that one “needs to succeed” and “be the best they can be” comes not from parents or teachers, but from society as a whole. CT Because, according to society, should one not achieve some sort of success, then they are considered a failure. Immediately, you are looked down on, judged, and placed into a lower class of people. Cohorts and family whisper about your failures, “Suzy’s the one who got pregnant in high school and dropped out” or “Johnny would have been so successful if he didn’t get involved with drugs.” It’s this desire, this pressure that society puts on us to be liked and respected that pushes us to succeed. I come from an educated, middle class family. Because of my upbringing society expects me to learn how to read and write, play club soccer, learn the multiplication table, master the history of the United States, comprehend the complex language of Shakespeare, apply to colleges and universities, receive acceptance letters from said colleges and universities, earn a diploma, go to college, put in countless hours of work, earn a degree, get a job, get married, buy a house, have children and encourage them to do the same. From an early age, you are exposed to this version of the American dream and you are told to pursue it. At all costs. No matter the sacrifice. This societal expectation either makes you, or breaks you. Follow it, and you are deemed a good member of society. Break it, and you are seen as an outcast. I do not want to be ostracized or rejected by society, I want to be seen as successful- as someone who sees the American dream, works for it, and obtains it. CT
As teachers, my parents value education and strive to help me pursue my own in any way they can. From drilling me on addition, to staying up late to help with a project my parents were ready to help me be successful. I remember being in elementary school and coming home with a bad grade. I recall sitting at the dinner table while my parents lectured me saying, “These are not the grades you want to achieve. This is giving up on yourself. You are much better than this C. For some people, it is okay to get a C grade. But, you want to be the best that you can be, right?” I would nod and often wipe tears from my face. “Then you study harder, learn it until you can repeat it in your sleep. Bring home an A next time.” As a child, I did not understand that my education was up to me. I thought that the teacher controlled my outcome. Often, I would blame a bad grade on the teacher or on the test. And again, I would be sitting at the dinner table and my parents would say, “You are the only person who controls your grades.” This lesson was very important for me. From then on, I internalized every compliment or piece of criticism I’ve ever received. I take the compliments, sometimes. Most of the time my teacher deserves the credit for inspiring the idea or working with me to get it done. Every bad mark, each part of constructive criticism, I analyze it, process the information, devise a new way to do better, and then seek to achieve it. I’m glad and very thankful that my parents taught me at a young age that I was in control of my outcomes. It gave me a sense of power and responsibility. For a while, hard work was worth it because I didn’t let my parents down. Now I realize that it’s worth it because anything less than my best is letting myself down. CT CT Another important factor in my desire to achieve has been the influence and support of my older brother, Erik. He has been more than just a caring sibling. He is my inspiration. I owe much of my success to him. As a child, I remember wandering into his room while he was immersed in a calculus proof or experimenting with the code of a computer. I was fascinated with what he could do with numbers and computers, how much he knew! I remember going up to bed and having Erik read Dr. Seuss to me. He would let me hold the book and when I wanted to focus on the pictures, he told me to focus on the letters and how they became words. The first book I ever remember reading aloud was The Cat in the Hat. I think I remember it so well because I read it with my brother. Over the years, my brother continued to encourage me to study and work as hard as I could. When things got too difficult or I couldn’t understand something, he was there, even when he was close to 400 miles away, he was there, working through a problem with me or explaining why it is important to read Shakespeare. To me, it feels like my brother is biggest fan, my strongest support system, and would drop anything to help me better myself in someway. Whether he is teaching me sine and cosine graphs, giving me a new perspective on a piece of literature, or combing through my papers with a fine tooth comb, he has always been there for me. My brother is, and will always be, my go to guy. I am extremely blessed to have a brother like him. I know most people don’t get this lucky. I just hope that someday, I can repay him for all he has done for me. If he was not in my life, I would not be the same person. Most people are thankful for having a roof over their head or food in their stomachs, but I am thankful for my brother. CT
The above factors have been important factors to my success. Each person or pressure has influenced me in their own unique way. All have taught me important lessons about myself and the world. Through them, I have learned essential lessons about life and how to succeed in all I seek to achieve. I am very thankful for my influences and honestly believe that I would not be the same without them. I have been blessed with these influences and supporters. I'm thankful for the pressure society has placed on me, honored even that the world expects so much from me.I started my education a while back but I do not believe I will ever finish. CT
Where does overwhelming need to succeed come from? This enormous pressure to succeed comes in part from my family and friends who want the very best for me, but if I am not successful, does that mean they will stop caring with what I do with my life? Or love me any less? The idea that one “needs to succeed” and “be the best they can be” comes not from parents or teachers, but from society as a whole. CT Because, according to society, should one not achieve some sort of success, then they are considered a failure. Immediately, you are looked down on, judged, and placed into a lower class of people. Cohorts and family whisper about your failures, “Suzy’s the one who got pregnant in high school and dropped out” or “Johnny would have been so successful if he didn’t get involved with drugs.” It’s this desire, this pressure that society puts on us to be liked and respected that pushes us to succeed. I come from an educated, middle class family. Because of my upbringing society expects me to learn how to read and write, play club soccer, learn the multiplication table, master the history of the United States, comprehend the complex language of Shakespeare, apply to colleges and universities, receive acceptance letters from said colleges and universities, earn a diploma, go to college, put in countless hours of work, earn a degree, get a job, get married, buy a house, have children and encourage them to do the same. From an early age, you are exposed to this version of the American dream and you are told to pursue it. At all costs. No matter the sacrifice. This societal expectation either makes you, or breaks you. Follow it, and you are deemed a good member of society. Break it, and you are seen as an outcast. I do not want to be ostracized or rejected by society, I want to be seen as successful- as someone who sees the American dream, works for it, and obtains it. CT
As teachers, my parents value education and strive to help me pursue my own in any way they can. From drilling me on addition, to staying up late to help with a project my parents were ready to help me be successful. I remember being in elementary school and coming home with a bad grade. I recall sitting at the dinner table while my parents lectured me saying, “These are not the grades you want to achieve. This is giving up on yourself. You are much better than this C. For some people, it is okay to get a C grade. But, you want to be the best that you can be, right?” I would nod and often wipe tears from my face. “Then you study harder, learn it until you can repeat it in your sleep. Bring home an A next time.” As a child, I did not understand that my education was up to me. I thought that the teacher controlled my outcome. Often, I would blame a bad grade on the teacher or on the test. And again, I would be sitting at the dinner table and my parents would say, “You are the only person who controls your grades.” This lesson was very important for me. From then on, I internalized every compliment or piece of criticism I’ve ever received. I take the compliments, sometimes. Most of the time my teacher deserves the credit for inspiring the idea or working with me to get it done. Every bad mark, each part of constructive criticism, I analyze it, process the information, devise a new way to do better, and then seek to achieve it. I’m glad and very thankful that my parents taught me at a young age that I was in control of my outcomes. It gave me a sense of power and responsibility. For a while, hard work was worth it because I didn’t let my parents down. Now I realize that it’s worth it because anything less than my best is letting myself down. CT
CT
Another important factor in my desire to achieve has been the influence and support of my older brother, Erik. He has been more than just a caring sibling. He is my inspiration. I owe much of my success to him. As a child, I remember wandering into his room while he was immersed in a calculus proof or experimenting with the code of a computer. I was fascinated with what he could do with numbers and computers, how much he knew! I remember going up to bed and having Erik read Dr. Seuss to me. He would let me hold the book and when I wanted to focus on the pictures, he told me to focus on the letters and how they became words. The first book I ever remember reading aloud was The Cat in the Hat. I think I remember it so well because I read it with my brother. Over the years, my brother continued to encourage me to study and work as hard as I could. When things got too difficult or I couldn’t understand something, he was there, even when he was close to 400 miles away, he was there, working through a problem with me or explaining why it is important to read Shakespeare. To me, it feels like my brother is biggest fan, my strongest support system, and would drop anything to help me better myself in someway. Whether he is teaching me sine and cosine graphs, giving me a new perspective on a piece of literature, or combing through my papers with a fine tooth comb, he has always been there for me. My brother is, and will always be, my go to guy. I am extremely blessed to have a brother like him. I know most people don’t get this lucky. I just hope that someday, I can repay him for all he has done for me. If he was not in my life, I would not be the same person. Most people are thankful for having a roof over their head or food in their stomachs, but I am thankful for my brother. CT
The above factors have been important factors to my success. Each person or pressure has influenced me in their own unique way. All have taught me important lessons about myself and the world. Through them, I have learned essential lessons about life and how to succeed in all I seek to achieve. I am very thankful for my influences and honestly believe that I would not be the same without them. I have been blessed with these influences and supporters. I'm thankful for the pressure society has placed on me, honored even that the world expects so much from me.I started my education a while back but I do not believe I will ever finish.
CT